Embroidery skein holder



Jan. 8, 1935. o. RASMUSSEN 1,987,159

EMBROIDERY SKEIN HOLDER Filed April 10. 1934 i "HE EH HEE E 1', i

NNNNNN OR Patented Jan. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to apparatus for the retention of thread materials in an orderly manner and more particularly to devices for holding skeins of embroidery thread or yarn.

The thread used in embroidery work is packed in the form of skeins. These skeins are formed by winding the thread on spools of a comparatively large diameter of approximately six or eight inches. The thread is then removed from the spool and the circular formation of same is changed by grasping the circle at diametrically opposite points and pulling same to a substantially flat oval. The ends of the oval are then twisted to. form a skein or hank of thread. In this form the thread is supplied to the user. When the material is required for use the skein is untwisted and all the threads at one point of the oval are out and the separate threads are removed as required. The removal of a single thread from a skein results in the raveling and otherwise disarranging the remaining threads, making it difficult to further remove other single threads.

It is the specific object of this invention to overcome these objections by retaining the skein in an orderly manner whereby a single thread may be removed from same without disarranging the remaining threads.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms part of the application, with-the understanding, however, that the improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claim.

In describing the invention in detail and the particular physical embodiment illustrating the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts thruout the several views.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the skein holder in use.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the skein holder from the rear side of the same preparatory to placing the skeins thereon; and

Fig. 3 is a top view of the left end of the skein holder showing the latch.

Referring to the drawing for a more detailed description thereof, numeral 4 indicates a front bar having a hinge 5 by which the rear bar 6 is retained in pivotal relation to the front bar 4. Numeral 7 indicates a plurality of pegs or dowels projecting from the rear surface of the front bar 4 substantially perpendicular to same. Numeral 8 indicates a plurality of apertures in the rear bar 6 arranged to register with and slip over the pins '7 when the bar 6 is swung into parallelism with the bar 4 on the hinge 5.. The front bar 4 carries a latch lock 9 which comprises a rod 10 pivoted to the front bar 4, a compression spring 11 retained on said rod and adapted to press against a latch member 12. The free end of the rear bar 6 is formed with a notch 14 adaptedto permit the swinging into latched position of the rod 10 and a semi-circular lateral groove 15 adapted to receive and retain the latch member 12 assisted by the spring 11 when the bar 10 is swung to forward position. The engagement of the latch member 12 into the groove 15 as it is swung forward is facilitated by the arcuately inclined surface 16.

The use of this device is as follows. The skein holder is opened, as shown in Fig. 2, and the respective skeins, as supplied by the manufacturer, are placed on their proper pegs, as indicated by the sign numerals 17, which are arranged for this purpose on the forward surface of the front bar. The rear bar 6 is then swung into parallelism with the front bar 4 where it contacts with and slightly compresses the upper end of each skein. The

latch lock 9 is then swung forward until the latch member 12 engages in the groove-15, which position is shown in Fig. 3. Each skein is then untwisted and its lower end is cut thru so that the skein then comprises a number of single threads, which threads may be readily removed from the skein without disarranging same. It is apparent from this description that the various objections to the present methods of retaining this material are overcome by my device.

What is claimed as new is:

A skein holder comprising a pair of straight parallel bars pivotally connected at corresponding ends, one of said bars having a series of apertures and the other having a series of pins extending into and beyond said apertures, said bars being spaced apart but being sufficiently close to exert a slight pressure on the skeins mounted on said pins, whereby the several skeins are held in position while threads are withdrawn from them, and means at the free ends of said bars for looking the latter together, one of said bars having at its free end a recess and a transverse groove on the outer face thereof, said locking means comprising a latch pivotally connected to the free end of the other bar and passing thru the mentioned recess and having a transverse pin which is spring pressed into the mentioned transverse 

